God never gives you more than you can bear.

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain, there will always be sunshine, after the rain .... Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall, But God's always ready, To answer your call ... He knows every heartache, sees every tear, A word from His lips, can calm every fear ... Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night, But suddenly vanish, in dawn's early light ... The Savior is waiting, somewhere above, To give you His grace, and send you His love .. Whatever your cross, whatever your pain, "God always sends rainbows .... after the rain ... "

To get out of difficulty, one must usually go through it! God never gives you more than you can bear – so bear it willingly and you will rejoice in your rewards!

School has started

Well, yesterday was the first day of school.

Here are the girls just before we leave the house. Erin is starting 2nd grade and Emily is in 4th. They are both very good students and are very excited about getting back to schedule.

Erin's teacher was very welcoming and warm which really made for a great start.

Emily has the new teacher who happens to male. She is very focused on the fact that he is male and was a little apperhensive about him.

I picked them up instead of them riding the bus home (upon their request) and was glad to hear that they both had a very good day. Em says that her teacher is funny but very strict. We'll see how this will work for her. I'm sure she will be fine.

Scouts also started last night. Wow are we going to have a full year. I have 12 Junior scouts and Cris has 12 Brownie scouts. We will be having lots of wild times together learning about being women in today's world.

The juniors got to pick our troop crest last night. By votes, they picked the Unicorn crest to represent us with it standing for our Friendship, our Adaptability and our Creativity.

What if I stumble????

Thursday, September 27, 2005, I left for a 72 hour spirtual retreat that, at the time I didn't know it, would change me forever. I was excited and scared all at once about going. This was something I had never done before and I was doing it alone. There were 5 other women from my church going but I had never taken any religious class or activity before without Marty. He wasn't even allowed to go with me to drop me off.

On the drive out, my fear rose and by time the sponsors from our church had left, I was in near panic mode. Friday, I walked around in a haze trying to figure out why I was there but actually started settling down. I talked with the ladies from my church and made some friends that I didn't expect to make. On Saturday morning, I received the answer to why I was suppose to be there. God's grace came so hard to my heart that I'm still in awe of the power of Him. Knelt at a foot the cross I laid down my pride, my selfishness, and my selfpity and I picked up my cross and have been carrying it every since.

Until this Saturday and then Sunday...............I stumbled and then fell. The pain in my heart is so heavy. I'm confused and bruised. I'm human and I'm subject to all human conditions. God knows I've experienced most all of them at some point. God's grace is so devine and I know that when I asked His forgiveness it was unconditional given to me but the feeling of letting Him down is so strong. Letting anyone down or being anyone elses stumbling block is something that truly weighs on my heart.

With being the Interim Children's Minister for the church, the very thought of the possiblity of causing someone to turn from God because I stumbled or fell due to my humanist causes me to be so ill. I know there is only one perfect Christian and none of us will ever compare to His glory, but ...............

I can't find the words, yet I can hear some of my friends as they will read this. "Don't be so hard on yourself." "You have to forgive yourself as God has forgiven you." "We all suffer from human errors." I know. Just hitting earth after being among Angels since October 1, 2005 can really hurt.

God, I'm listening. I don't know what your telling me but I'm trying to listen.


DeColores





What if I stumble, what if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?
What if I stumble, and what if I fall?

Father please forgive me for I cannot compose
The fear that lives within me or the rate at which it grows.
If struggle has a purpose on the narrow road you've carved
Why do I dread my trespasses will it leave a deadly scar?


DC Talk's - What if I stumble - from the Jesus Freak album

The count down has begun.

In 9 days Marty and I start back Disciple. We will be doing IV this time and have been doing Disciple Bible study four years. This will be 5.

In 10 days the girls start back to school. Emily has a male teacher and Erin has a teacher that moved from K to 2nd grade this year.

In 10 days Girl Scouts start back on regular meetings.

In 12 days our Wednesday night cell group starts back meeting every week at our house.

In 24 days Emily starts piano lessons back.

I could go on and on. We schedule everything, can you tell. I'm a very structured individual but even this gets to me sometimes.

I am excited about all of these starting back though. I may be a nerd but I love planning and since I'm the scout leader and the children's ministry, I'm always planning something. We have a very exciting new year in scouts since Emily moved up to Juniors. There is so many activities and badges and things to learn. I've got so much planned for them that I don't know how they will find time for school.

Then there is the new program that we are starting for the 4th through 6th graders in Sunday School. We're starting a new group called Faith Finders and have the really cool curriculum that even has it's own website that the kids have access to. They give us the feed back on it as to what they want us to teach each week and they do the choosing of the games they do, so that they get a hand in their activities. The ones that I have talked to are very excited about it.

Lots of different great things and then a few sad.

We have our going away/back to school scout party tomorrow. It will be Alexis' last event with us. She and her mom are so cool (check out her blog). Alexis is one of Emily's best friends and Tiffany is quickly becoming one of my very close friends too. It's great but now we are gonna have to communicate via our blogs because she will be in Japan. I'm very excited for them and am actually very envious too. I'm not really a mover type person but I'd love to see other parts of the world and learn different cultures. I just do it through my military friends. I told Tiffany that Alexis is gonna have to get a webcam so she can still attend our meetings. I've already sent her an invitation to our private troop blog so she can still communicate with the girls. Another thing that is wonderful about Tiffany that we are going to miss is she knows all of the Camp Story Girl Scout songs and she has been our teacher. So the webcam will have to serve two purposes, to keep Alexis connect and so Tiffany can still teach us music.

I'll try to get a picture of Tiffany and Alexis tomorrow at the party.

August already

I can't believe that it is August already. Scouts, School and Small Group are starting back and I just can't see where the time is going to come from. We stay too busy these days. I'm always feeling somewhat rushed. I love all that I do I just wish I had more oppurtunity to do it. Thers'e only one activity on my plate that I'd like to give up and I can't because it's the one that pays the bills.

Work is not what it use to be. It use to be interesting and busy and changing. Now it's slow, stressful and full of politics. I don't like politics.

Well, I know I have to make the lemonade out of lemons so I won't complain. I have job with great benefits and when we do have funding it is rewarding. I just have to make it through these slow periods I guess.

There are so many topics talk about some days and others I've got nothing. Today I could change subjects over and over. I could talk about scouts and how excited I am about this coming year. I could talk about the girls going back to school and how excited I am for Emily and concerned I am over Erin. I could talk about Children's Ministry at our church and how I'm looking for servants to help out in all departments. I could talk about starting our cell group back and that I'm not ready because my house is a disaster. I could talk about the walk that is coming this weekend and how excited I am for the women who are going. I could talk about my friend who might be going on one of the next women's walk in Oct or Nov. I could talk about how I wish more of my friends would blog and that it actually flustrates me that they don't. I could talk about the dear friend who is moving in a week to Japan and I'm going to miss.

Pick a topic. Any topic. I've don't know which to discuss. Maybe it isn't my life that is busy but just my brain with too many thoughts.

Family time

We've been having a very full summer and not much family only time so last night after SLUFY we went and had a dinner at Applebee's and planned to come home and have a family tv night. Well the best laid plans were not last night. Instead we came home to find this:

Meet Snowbell or Snowball. The girls had her named in about 10 minutes but keep going back and forth on which of these two names they like. If you were the "wonderful, thoughtful" person that left this precious gift on our doorstep, Mommy and Daddy would like to meet you so we can personally.... ahhh.... "thank you". She is a very sweet kitten and we're not sure what we're going to do with her. At the moment she resides mostly in the wash house with some trips into the big house. Mom isn't sure if the itchy eyes and sneezing last night are from her or being on the floor on the carpet. If they are because of snow then other arrangement might for sure be in the future.

Another part of our family time was getting up today and going biking. Daddy packed the truck yesterday so we could get an early start today but we were alll so tired that we sleep late. That's okay, we still made it to the county farm out by Maumelle Park and went for about a 5 mile ride. We found a new part of the trail that they've constructed and rode it.

It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed having time together. We ate lunch at Maumell Park after the ride and just enjoyed the day. It was hot but the breeze from the river was really nice.
Then in the afternoon we went to the Launius' house and swam in the pool for a while. It was really nice to cool off and relax. Now were going to watch Mary Poppins before we go to bed. Family is a wonderful thing to have.

New Blogger

Welcome Cre8iveOne to blogging. I helped my friend, Wendy, last night in setting up her own blog spot. She has been staying at our house for the last 2 weeks while she works at SLUFY. This has worked very well for us as Emily and Erin are attending SLUFY and she has been able to help us with transportation.

I don't know if she will use her blog much but it was her idea and I said I'd help her. Though her first post says I pushed her into it, this was her idea. I do hope she'll do it so that I can keep up with her and her family. It's too easy to loose touch when your more then an hour away and though I think of her and my other friends from college often, getting time to really chat with them is slim to none most of the time.

My arm hurts

Have I told you my arm hurts? If you haven't seen me recently then you haven't seen me wearing my brace again. The wrist that I had the ganglion cyst removed from in July of 1999 is having issues again. I've been to the specialist and have had an MRI. The MRI shows nothing so the Dr. suggested getting a shot in the location of the pain and if that didn't work, he would order a bone scan. Well, if you know me, then you know I don't like shots so I refused that idea. He said he would put me in a brace for 6 weeks and we could see what I thought after that. I think he thinks this will change my mind about the shot. Though I'm very uncomfortable and it hurts to be on my beloved computer, I don't think so. Shots hurt and don't try to tell me I'm being silly. I've talked to too many people that have had cortizone shots and EVERYONE has said they hurt. Thanks. No. I'll pass.

The weather here is unusually comfortable. It's not too hot and in the evening and early morning it has actuall been in the lower 70's and upper 60's. I so wish we have been camping. We love to camp and have not been able to get out as much. If we do go, I've got to be back for Sunday morning so we can't go far. Gonna have to get a better plan for this some how.

The girls are loving SLUFY this summer and we have had an extra bonus with them going. My friend, Wendy, from college is one of the teachers and she has been staying with us during the week. It has been a lot of fun seeing her and her girls and just being together.

Harry Potter is complete

I finished it! Now I'm waiting on Marty so we can talk about it. Until then I have to remain silent or go outside if a friend calls who has finished it so we can talk.

Yes. I got my copy at 12:01 am and read the first 2 chapters before turning the light off and going to bed. I then got up at 8:00 am and read until 9:30 pm only stopping for short breaks. I never went outside and I understand that it was a beautiful day out. Oh well. I still read it and am glad I did. It was very well written and I really enjoyed it and I plan on reading it again to see all that I missed the first time.

Wish I could write like that but since you've read my blog, you know I'm not gifted at writting. Oh well.

Just wanted to let the world know that I've read it and that it took me 14 hours to do it.

VBS is over Wahoo

Okay, I can finally get back to blogging. Last week was VBS and I had NO time to set at my computer. If I wasn't at VBS, then I was back at work working on a deadline that came up. Both are complete now so I have more time.

Well, okay, no I don't but it isn't as hectic at the moment.

I do need to call a Children's Ministry meeting and a Scout Leaders meeting; plan the Back to School Scout party; the Emmaus Quarterly is on the 5th of Aug; Marty's birthday is the 4th of Aug; Mom's birthday is the 6th, Bryce's birthday is the 12th, Dylan's birthday is the 22nd; there's a walk the 9th-11th; disciple IV starts the 19th; School starts back the 20th; our first scout meeting of the year is the 6th; and the Sunday School promotion day is the 19th.

I did say it wasn't hectic didn't I????

Any how VBS is over for another year and was a huge success and there were an average 90 kids there. Most we had never seen and some that are promising to come back in the fall and Kristi has already said that she wants to be the director next year. She's already looking into the 2008 VBS material and is excited about it. That is awesome!!!!!!!!!

Happy 4th of July

Just wanted to wish everyone a safe and glorious 4th of July. Celebrate and enjoy the freedom that we so take for granted. Pray a prayer for those that are at this minute are fighting to keep that freedom for us who are not at home with their families today.

A River Runs Through IT!!!!!

The start of this 2 night Girl Scout weekend started with lots of laugher and excitement. Here are the girls just before we loaded up and headed north to Blanchard Springs Recreation Area, just north west of Mt. View, Arkansas.

We got to our campsite about an hour and half later then planned due to several traffic delays on Hwy 5, but we got the tents up before dark and got the girls fed. We had 6 brownies and 5 junior Girl Scouts this trip and 6 adults. The campsite was beautiful with a clift to our south, an open field to our west and restroom facilities to our northwest. We had 5 tents, though you only see four in this picture. Two of our dads went and their tent was located to the south east of the girls. The brown patches in the grass show the location of tents from previous campers.

We woke to a beautiful morning on Saturday and after breakfast we allowed the girls to explore the shallow cave at the base of the clift just beyond the fence of our campsite. Below you can see a picture of us at the mouth of the cave.

We did some try-it/badge work and then loaded the vehicles for the short drive to the Ozark Folk Center in Mt. View (about 14 miles away). Upon arriving at the center, the girls were asked to help make soap and wash clothes as they did in the pioneer days. We headed from the soap making to musical instruments. The girls were allowed to try different musical instruments such as spoons, guitar, lyre, and mandalin. Several of the girls showed some real musical talent. Next was a visit to the candle maker's shop where each girl received a pair of candles that they each got to dip in hot, colored wax to decorate.

The Center offers a program called Pioneer Kids that at specified times has activities for them to do. We headed there next and the girls were able to work with clay to make pinch pots. They really seemed to enjoy making a creation of their own. It was lunch time so we headed out of the Center to the picnic area for our lunch and rest. Then it was on to more adventure. We visited: the toymaker, basket weaver, broom maker, art gallery, blacksmith, country kitchen, seamstress, cooper, wood shop, quilter, pottery maker and finally the jewerler. It was a very busy afternoon.

They learned many new things. Below they are pulling cotton seeds out of the cotton boles. We had a very hard time getting them to leave. They wanted to stay until they finished the whole basket of cotton.

We headed back to camp and gave the girls a break while we started prep for dinner. The brownies gathered up to work on a try-it while the junior began working on their outdoor cooking badge. They learned how to prepare food for cooking, what a dutch oven was and how to use it. They learned how to do dish clean up using the 3-wash basin system. They were cooking tater tot casserole and brownie cheesecakes in the dutch ovens when a small rain shower hit. It was just an hour light rain and then back to business. Since they hadn't learned about fire and fire maintenance yet, after the rain they listened to Mr. Marty and Mr. Kevin on what they did to keep our cook fire going during the rain. They then prepared their hamburgers with the option of carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, onions and celery in foil packs. They gave them to the dads to place in the fire then helped the Brownies make their foil packs. Dinner was a real delite and the girls heard lots of praises from the Brownies and the adults on their hard work. After dinner, the Brownies headed to the showers while the Juniors learned about clean up, then they got their showers.

Quick note: Never sing "Johnny Appleseed" grace before dinner while camping, even if it has already rained that day and the weather report said that there was only a 20% change of showers. We all agree that this songs must be completely erased from the Girl Scout song book.

We set around the camp fire for about 10 minutes then s'mores were the next on the list. We had just gotten everyone theirs and had just started the adults when drops of rain began to fall. We had already received a weather report from home and knew that we would likely have rain for about an hour (according to what the radar showed). So we were expecting it, we just thought we would have enough time for S'mores first. Not so. The girls headed for their tents, while the adults started getting everything under cover. The light rain turned in to heavy rain quickly and all I can say is never trust the radar. Trust your gut. The rain grew heavy and set in for the night. Everything was going well until Tent 2 hollered that they were getting wet. I head to check out what was happening there and discover that the floor of their tent was indeed taking on water. It was like walking on a waterbed at first then it started to seep through. We moved these girls to one of the leaders tent and moved their wet gear to the other leaders tent. Did I mention that it is still POURING down rain? We get the girls in the new tent and then we have a discussion of what options we had. We decided that since most, if not all, of Tent 2's sleeping bags and clothes were wet that it was best to get them home. We decided to leave the adult men behind to stay with our stuff and us leaders would take the girls home to warm beds. We went to Tent 1 to let the leader who was sitting with those girls during the storm know, only to find that those girls were sound asleep. I mean dead to the world asleep. Oh well, they were dry now but it wasn't going to be long before they weren't, so stick to the game plan. We woke them up and started loading cars. We loaded all of them in two vehicles. Every trip to the vehicle, we noticed that it was getting deeper and deeper. Not a good sign at all. We finally got them all loaded in and I must say I'm very proud of the girls in our troop. Though they were in a scary situation, they cried some but we were able to calm them down easily and no one completely freaked out on us. We got them all back to Cabot safely around 1:15 am and everyone's parents came and picked them up.

After 4 hours of sleep, Kristi and I headed back up to get the equipment that the guys couldn't get loaded in their two trucks, while Cris watched our girls and had her husband cook us a wonderful lunch/dinner (what do you call it when you eat at 3:00 pm). Below is our rain soaked camp site. After getting everything loaded, we made a quick stop to walk the short trail to the Blanchard Springs Caverns exit. Below is the picture of the exit. This was what the girls were suppose to get to see today and then go in the caverns to see what the water made inside, but I guess we'll be planning another trip.

We made it home with everything and then started sorting all the stuff. We washed all the dirt off the tents and now have them hanging out to dry on my back porch.

We had a great time that I'm sure everyone will remember but I'd rather not have a "River Run Through Our Tents."

SLUFY

Tonight we had a parent meeting for the SLUFY. SLUFY (Summer Laureate University for Youth) is a summer enrichment program for Gifted and Talented Students and Emily and Erin were excepted into it this year.

Erin will be taking a walk on the wild side for home base and then head over for mathematical adventures. She will be learning about animals and their habitats and explore special patterns.

Emily will uncovering mystries in Mystory 101 then she will take cooling off in Antarctic Blast. She will be a detective in solving, writing and developing mysteries. Then she will explorer th Antarctica to learn about global warming on the ice caps.

It is promising to be a grand two week adventures that they will start July 16. Were very excited for them.

Exercise

Well, I finally got back on the treadmill. I only did 10 mins but it's a start. I did 50 crunches and 10 regular sit-ups. I had to do the sit-ups because my girls had to tell me how they have to do them at school and that I was going them wrong. I have never really minded crunches but I hate full sit-ups. I did them though, just because my daughters wanted me to. Course, they also had to do them and we even managed to get Daddy in the act. He did jumping jacks and push-ups, but since his ribs are still so sore from his boogie board accident in Florida, he didn't do the sit-ups. He'll get his chance though. We may make this physical activity increase be fore all of us now that the girls seem to want to coach me. I'll keep you updated on that.

Bitchology

I received this from a friend this morning and it fits today so I'm posting it here. I don't know the author of this but I would like to thank her, whom ever she may be. I'm with you, sister.

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a bitch.

When I stand up for those I love, they call me a bitch.
When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts or do things my own way, they call me a bitch.
Being a bitch means I won't compromise what's in my heart.

It means I live my life MY way.
It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.
When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak against it, I am defined as a bitch.

The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone's maid, or when I act a little selfish.
It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I "should" be.
I am outspoken, opinionated and determined.
I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!

So try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me.
You won't succeed.

And if that makes me a bitch, so be it.
I embrace the title and am proud to bear it.

B - Babe
I - In
T - Total
C - Control of
H - Herself

B = Beautiful
I = Intelligent
T = Talented
C = Charming
H = Hell of a Woman

B = Beautiful
I = Individual
T = That
C = Can
H = Handle anything

Hiking and A Wedding

This morning we got up early and headed to Pinnacle Mountain. It was a lovely morning to go climb a mountain. We started up the mountain at 7:34 am and reached the top at 8:15 am. We relaxed on the rocks and enjoyed the view and breeze then we headed back down at 8:30 am. We reached the bottom at 9:06 am. 41 mins up and 36 mins down. We would have been up it quicker if we had let Erin set the pace. She was one mission this morning and had the most energy.

After we came down, we headed home for showers so I could run the girls to their hair appointment at 11:00 am. The girls were flowergirls in the Merritt/Thornton wedding at 4:00 pm and we had their hair done along with the bride and her bridesmaids. The girls were really loving being with the bride, Lindsey, and her bridesmaids, because it really made them feel like big girls. They couldn't stop talking to anyone that would listen and hugging anyone that would let them.
Their hair looked fabulous, thanks to Spring at the Taj salon. The only problem was when we went to leave a thunderstorm had blown in and so the girls had to put garbage bags over their heads to get to the car. Again, thanks to Spring for helping get the girls out to the car. No problem, the hair was not damaged. I've never seen my girls work so hard at keeping their hair fixed.

We headed home so I could dress for the wedding then off to Conway for the before wedding pictures. We got there and got the girls in their dresses and they were ready to go. See the photo below to see how my "babies" have grown. Daddy and Mommy were all choked up about how quickly it will be their wedding.
The girls did fabulous with their part and helped make this a fabulous wedding. Lindsey and John had a beautiful wedding and we were blessed to be a part of it. We wish them a long life together full of happiness and love. Though I don't feel right about asking newly weds to babysit anymore. I've lost my babysitter!!! Oh well. I will be adding a link to Crystal Goss's site when the wedding pictures are available to view. I know I will be buying some of those.
All in all it was a GREAT day.

Last Day Relaxing in Florida

Being the last day before we have to make the long drive home, we decided to go spend more time in the sun on the beach. We got up had breakfast (at 10:30 am) and headed to the sand. We got to the beach around 11:30 am and didn't leave until 3:30 pm.

We sprayed on the sunscreen, setup our staging area and hit the waves. We had 4 boogie boards, a pail and shovel, googles, snacks and drinks. We were good. Marty spent most of his time in the waves on a boogie board, I spend time on a board, on a towel, looking for shells and watching my kids. The girls spent time both on a boogie board and body surfing. Emily is really good at body surfing waves but Erin perfers the boogie board. Which they both happen to be rather good at it. Course it helps that they are both so light so it's easier for the wave to pick them up. Us larger people are so lucky. Marty happens to be sporting a very nice bruise on his ribs on the left side thanks to a wave and a miscalculation.

It was a GREAT day at the beach. I would have taken more pictures but I was too busy being in the water.

After the beach we head back to Dianna's house and cleaned up for dinner with both my sisters and my brother-in-laws. It was wonderfully relaxing time and I really don't want to leave. But tomorrow the vacation is over. Time to head back to reality.

Bummer.

Last two days at Disney World

We had a grand time visiting the Mouse at Magic Kingdom and then Animal Kingdom. It was Marty and the girls second time to the Magic Kingdom and all of ours first time to Animal Kingdom.


We had breakfast the first day with Mickey, Pluto and Lilo & Stitch at the Polynesians Resort's Ohana restaurant. It was very nice to start the trip out this way. Breakfast was delicious and and the service was fabulous. Then the characters came around to visit us. That was really nice too. So the girls got to see Mickey before we ever entered the park.

The Animal Kingdom was day 2. Animal Kingdom is right up our liking. The Safari ride is the coolest thing. Erin loves and collects giraffes and there were three almost in touching distant of the safari vehicle and 2 more that we could see. The lucky part was that they were on Erin's side so they were almost in her face.

Now this wasn't as exciting for Emily because she loves and collects panda bears. Although they have an Asian area, there were no live panda bears which kind of disappointed her and bummed her out some. She still had a good time though.

The weather is beautiful

I've got a moment and will do my best to get this updated. It has been a long last week. Because we were leaving on Thursday evening for vacation, we had lost of little things to get done at home and work.

Work is very busy with a special project and from the time I walk in the door until I walk out I'm at my desk on the computer. This isn't bad because I like being busy but my right wrist that I had surgery on in 1999 doesn't really like it. I has been hurting for the past two week since I spray painted for VBS. Something is not right with it and I will be making an appointment when we return to see the hand special that did my surgery.

Monday was take the girls after school to the library to sign up for the summer reading program and then shopping for clothes before a church meeting at the pastors' house. Have I ever mentioned that shopping with Emily is a true adventure that I'd just as soon avoid? She is rather particular about her clothes and her taste and mind don't agree. I thought this wouldn't happen until she was a teenager?

Tuesday was another fun filled day because my suburban, which we are driving on vacation, decided that it didn't want to start after I dropped Emily off at a birthday party sleep over. I was stranded at her friends grandparents house. Luckily the neighbor took pity on me and came over while I was waiting on John and Marty to come to my aide and he fixed it. Seems that one of the battery cables had come loose and just needed to be retightened. For the recorded, I had no tools in the truck because we were cleaning it out to get ready for the trip, so this scout wasn't prepared. Shame on me. John was nice enough though to ask us to bring the sub over because we had been needing to get the rear air fix. He worked on it all evening while Marty and Erin and I went and shopped again but this time for Marty and me. You can now hang meat in my sub. THANKS John.

Wednesday was a whirl wind of work, packing and cleaning the house.

Thursday was the final day of work for Marty while I did the last minute errands: rotate tires, drop off bears for sewing, pack the bags, load the sub, grab a nap. We did all of this just for this.

Tammy works at the Cape and she had received passes for this launch and was able to get us within 5 miles of the launch pad. It was a totally awesome site and well worth the drive down.

Yesterday we spend the day at the beach trying to ride boogie boards, though we didn't do very good. Erin rode one and Emily rode one but that was it. Matt said it was a bad wave day.

Well I will post more later.

The Weekend

The weekend started off Friday evening with a birthday party for one of my dearest friend's son. Cordell turns 7 later this month, but to have friends from school come they had it Friday night. It was a great evening of laughing and joking and talking with friends.


Saturday was a buzy day. My 3rd grade brownies bridged up into juniors. It is a truely awesome occasion. Emily, my oldest, is now a junior. This also marks a land mark for me because now I'm a junior scout leader and there are a lot more badges which require a lot more work.

We had it at the city park but had to use Plan B for the location because you can't reserve the pavilions and a lady had gotten there at 7:00 am to get the pavilion for her family reunion at 10:00 am. That's okay because we are Girl Scouts and we come prepared. I called parents and had them bring lawn chairs, sent Marty to borrow some from friends, I already had tables and Cheri called Mike for more tables and we just set up our own location next the bridge. I think it was actually better because the girls were closer to the parents this way and could be heard better. We had our Court of Awards first, which is where we give activity patches and badges earned to the girls, then we bridged the 3rd graders. I was very pleased with how it turned out.

Next we were off to the house to unload, change clothes, and water the Butterfly Memorial Garden before heading to Kristi's house for her girls' birthday party. That was lot of fun, about 10 girls, 2 boys and a Karaoke machine. How relaxing!! Hee Hee. It really was a lot of fun.

Then us adult girls took Tammie out for her birthday. Enough said. This we must do more often.

Sunday was the sad part of the weekend. Kristi's little sister, Sandi, lost her battle with cancer and has gone home now to be with our gracious Lord. Kristi was able to make it see her sister before she passed away but it is still hard to let go of someone so special. It makes me realize how much my own blood sisters mean to me, as do my christian sisters. I have been blessed with so much and this only makes me remember that more. Thank you God for the lesson you have given me through this experience.

(I will post pictures when I get a chance.)